Folding table with interlocking legs and apron or shield

ABSTRACT

A table or stand has pairs of legs which are mounted along two opposite margins of the top for swinging movement toward and away from each other, and an apron mounted along a third margin of the top and outwardly of the adjacent legs for swinging movement in a direction normal to the swinging movement of the legs, the legs which are adjacent the apron having slots in their inner faces respectively leading to spaces within the legs, and the apron having on its inner surface brackets which each support a rotatable locking member extending laterally of the apron and defining a head which in one angular position can pass through the slot in an opposed leg, and means for controlling the rotational position of the locking member, the legs being moveable outwardly beyond operative position so that on being moved inwardly to operative position the slots in the legs adjacent to the apron will be aligned with the heads of the locking members respectively and will receive the heads if they have been properly positioned, and the apron being moveable outwardly beyond operative position so that when the apron and legs are not interlocked the legs may be swung inwardly past the brackets and locking means carried by the apron, to folded position. The apron may then be folded over and on top of the folded legs.

States Patent [72] Inventor Alan Carleton Burr East Norwalk, Conn.

211 Appl. No. 772,497

[22] Filed Nov. 1,1968

[45] Patented Dec. 21,1971

[73] Assignee Howe Folding Furniture, Incorporated New York, NY.

[54] FOLDING TABLE WITH INTERLOCKING LEGS 161,012 6/1933 SwitzerlandABSTRACT: A table or stand has pairs of legswhich are mounted along twoopposite margins of the top for swinging movement toward and away fromeach other, and an apron mounted along a third margin of the top andoutwardly of the adjacent legs for swinging movement in. a directionnormal to the swinging movement of the legs, the legs which are adjacentthe apron having slots in their inner faces respectively leading tospaces within the legs, and the apron having on its inner surfacebrackets which each support a rotatable locking member extendinglaterally of the apron and defining a head which in one angular positioncan pass through the slot in an opposed leg, and means for controllingthe rotational position of the locking member, the legs being movealbleoutwardly beyond operative position so that on being moved inwardly tooperative position the slots in the legs adjacent to the apron will bealigned with the heads of the locking members respectively and willreceive the heads if they have been properly positioned, and the apronbeing moveable outwardly beyond operative position so that when theapron and legs are not interlocked the legs may be swung inwardly pastthe brackets and locking means carried by the apron, to folded position.The apron may then be folded over and on top of the folded legs.

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17 Q9 11 12 171ml 6. Barr FOLDING TABLE WITH INTERLOCKING LEGS AND APRONOR SHIELD This invention relates to interlocking means for interengagingthe unfolded legs of a table or stand with an apron or shield extendingdownwardly from below one lateral margin of the top of the table orstand. The interlocking means not only provides interengagement, therebypreventing inadvertent folding of the table or stand but also providesmeans for maintaining a firm interlock.

The table legs, at least those which are to be interengaged with theshield, are tubular and each has a slot on the inner face at a distancebelow the upper end corresponding to the position of coactiveinterlocking means provided on the inside of the apron or shield. Eachinterlocking means comprises a short shaft rotatably mounted in an eyeprojecting outwardly from a bracket which is supported on the insidesurface of the apron or shield. The outer end of the shaft terminates ina flat head which is shaped so that when disposed in one plane it willpass through the slot on the inner surface of the leg, but cannot bepassed through the slot when it is disposed in another angularly relatedplane. Thus if the head is passed through the slot and then rotated intoa plane which is substantially normal to its previous plane it cannot bewithdrawn through the slot.

An operating handle is mounted on the shaft and its position along theshaft is determined by a nut which is adjustable along the shaft on theopposite side of the handle from the head. Between the inner end of thehandle and the flange of the bracket which defines the eye a resilientgasket and a washer are provided and the head may be drawn up tightagainst the inner surface of the slotted wall of the leg by turning ofthe nut on the rod and against the inner end of the operating handle.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a folding table or stand employing amodesty shield or apron,

FIG. 2 is a plan view looking at the under surface of the ta ble,

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a view partly in cross section taken on the lines 4- 4 of FIG.2,

FIG. Sis a detail view taken on the lines 5--5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view looking at the under surface of the tabletop and the inner surface of the apron or shield and showing a pair oflegs swung outwardly, and the interlocking means in position for thehead portion to enter into a slot on the inside surface of the tubularleg,

FIG. 7 is a detail view partly in cross section taken on the lines 7-7of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the apron or shield swungoutwardly to give clearance for folding a leg assembly,

FIG. 9 is a view partly in cross section taken on the lines 9- 9 of FIG.8,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the legs ofthe table or stand in folded position, preliminary to folding the apronor shield,

FIG. 11 is a detail view partly in cross section taken on the lines lIllofFIG. 10,

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the apron or shieldfolded over on top of the folded legs, and

FIG. 13 is an end view taken on the lines l3l3 of FIG. 12 and thereforelargely in cross section.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings a tableor stand 10 comprises, a top 12, apron or shield 14, and legs 16. Thepairs of legs adjacent each end of the table are interconnected by acrosspiece or stretcher l7.

Depending from the under surface of the top adjacent its margins is aflange 18, formed by fastening angle means to the top. The apron orshield 14 is hinged to the outer face of the flange 18 along one lateralmargin of the top by hinges 20. (FIG. 3) Preferably the apron or shieldextends the full length of the top. The legs 16 are tubular and arepivoted on the inside of the flange 18 on pivot pins 22,. which aremounted on the portions of the flange 18 extending parallel to the sideedges of the top and project inwardly from said portions adjacent theirends. The legs 16 which are adjacent the apron or shield 14 are disposedinwardly of the top from the apron or shield and rotate in a plane whichis inside of, and parallel to, the plane of the apron or shield inunfolded operative position.

The inner faces of the two legs which are adjacent the apron or shieldare slotted adjacent their upper ends respectively with the narrow slotss, and on the inside of the apron or shield brackets 24 are mountedwhich support means coactive with the slotted legs and slotsrespectively to interlock the said legs and apron or shield.

The brackets 24 each comprise a portion 26 extending at a right angle tothe apron or shield 14 and defining a bearing 28 in which a shaft 30 ismounted for rotation around its longitudinal axis in a plane parallel tothe plane of the apron or shield. The outer ends of the shafts 30 defineheads 32 which are narrow and flat in one dimension and relatively widein another dimension. Heads 32 are disposed to be aligned with the slotss in the opposed legs as the latter are swung into unfolded operativeposition. The heads 32 are proportioned relative to the slots s so thatwhen the narrow dimension of a head is coplanar with the slot it canpass through the slot but when it is disposed at a relative rotary angleit cannot pass through the slot. By properly adjusting the rotary angleof a head on an unfolded, operatively positioned apron or shield it willenter the slots in the opposed face of the adjacent leg 16 as the latteris swung toward it, FIGS. 6 and 7. By then changing the angular positionof the head within the leg the wide dimension of the head will becoplanar with the slot and the head cannot pass through the slot. Thusthe leg will be locked to the apron or shield and the tightness of theinterlock can be insured as will be described.

It will be noted that, as seen in FIGS. 4, 7, and II, the legs 16 arerounded off inwardly at their upper ends, as at 34, permitting them tobe rotated inwardly from unfolded to folded position in a plane nest to,and parallel to, the plane of the top 12. A pair of legs may be unfoldedand rotated outwardly beyond a position at right angles to the top, asshown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, to disengage the apron or shield by swingingthe slot-defining leg away from the head 32 of the locking means carriedby the apron or shield, or preparatory to swinging the slot defining leginwardly to a position substantially at right angles to the top in whichthe properly positioned head 32 is received within the leg through theslot s. As shown in FIG. 7 the outward swinging movement of each pair oflegs is limited by the square shape of the outer edge portion of theupper ends of the legs and by abutment of the legs against the upperedge of the adjacent portion of flange 1.8.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 the apron or shield 14 can be swungoutwardly on its hinge means beyond its operative position substantiallynormal to the top 1.2 in order to allow the pairs of legs to haveclearance to pass the brackets 24 and the locking means carried therebywhen moving the legs to folded position, FIGS. 10, ll, 12 and I3, andcan be swung inwardly into folded position on top of the folded legs asshown in FIG. 13.

To insure tightness of the interlock provided by inserting an opposedhead 32 into a leg through a slot s in an opposing leg and rotating thehead to a rotary angle at which it cannot be withdrawn from the slot,and to facilitate rotating the head, a handle or finger piece 36 ismounted on the shaft 30, extending at a right angle to the shaft, on theopposite side of the bracket flange 26 from the head 32; a washer 38 anda resilient gasket 40 are provided on the shaft, between the bracketflange 26 and the handle or finger piece 36; and the end of the shaftremote from the head is threaded to receive a nut 42 by adjustment ofwhich the shaft may be moved axially within its bearing to control theinterlocking pressure exerted by the head on the inside surface of theslotted wall of a slotted leg.

By the means described herein as firm and positive interlock may beprovided at all times.

IOIOIS 02ll What I claim is:

l. A table or stand comprising, a top, legs hinged to the respectiveends of the top for swinging movement longitudinally of the top from afolded position in a plane parallel to the top through an operativeposition normal to the top to a position angularly related to the planeof the top by more than 90, an apron hinged to the top along one lateralmargin of the top, and outwardly from the two legs which are adjacent toit, for swinging movement transversely of the top, from a foldedposition in a plane parallel to the top, and extending over and acrossthe folded legs to a position normal to the top, the inner faces of thelegs which when unfolded are adjacent to and disposed inwardly of theunfolded apron each defining a slot communicating with space within theleg, and a plurality of means mounted on the inner surface of the apronand each having a locking portion extending parallel to the plane of theapron and disposed to register with and enter the slot in one of saidlegs when the apron is positioned substantially normal to the top andthe leg is moved toward it from an unfolded position of more than 90relative to the top.

2. The table or stand claimed in claim I in which each of said meanscarried on the apron comprises a bracket mounted on the apron and arotatable member carried by the bracket and projecting into the swingpath of one of the legs and having a head which in one rotary positionis adapted to enter into an approaching opposed leg through the slottherein, and

means for rotating the said head when it has been inserted into the slotto place it in a position from which it cannot be withdrawn from theslot thereby interlocking the leg and apron.

3. The table or stand claimed in claim 1 in which the apron is mountedfor swinging movement away from folded position through more than so itcan be swung outwardly to provide clearance for the legs and allow thelegs to be moved, past the brackets and locking means projecting fromthe inner surface of the apron, to folded position.

4. The table or stand claimed in claim 1 in which each of said meansmounted on the inner face of the apron comprises a bracket supported onthe inner face of the apron and having an outwardly projecting flangedefining a bearing, a shaft mounted for rotation in said bearing, andhaving a head which is opposed to the slot in the adjacent leg when theleg is moved inwardly from an unfolded position of more than 90 and theapron is substantially normal to the top, the said head being narrow inone direction and wide in another direction relative to the slot wherebyit can pass through the slot when it is disposed in coplanar relation tothe slot, and can be locked within the space within the leg by changingits rotary angle relative to the slot, and means for rotating the saidshaft to change the rotary angle of the head.

1. A table or stand comprising, a top, legs hinged to the respectiveends of the top for swinging movement longitudinally of the top from afolded position in a plane parallel to the top through an operativeposition normal to the top to a position angularly related to the planeof the top by more than 90*, an apron hinged to the top along onelateral margin of the top, and outwardly from the two legs which areadjacent to it, for swinging movement transversely of the top, from afolded position in a plane parallel to the top, and extending over andacross the folded legs to a position normal to the top, the inner facesof the legs which when unfolded are adjacent to and disposed inwardly ofthe unfolded apron each defining a slot communicating with space withinthe leg, and a plurality of means mounted on the inner surface of theapron and each having a locking portion extending parallel to the planeof the apron and disposed to register with and enter the slot in one ofsaid legs when the apron is positioned substantially normal to the topand the leg is moved toward it from an unfolded position of more than90* relative to the top.
 2. The table or stand claimed in claim 1 inwhich each of said means carried on the apron comprises a bracketmounted on the apron and a rotatable member carried by the bracket andprojecting into the swing path of one of the legs and having a headwhich in one rotary position is adapted to enter into an approachingopposed leg through the slot therein, and means for rotating the saidhead when it has been inserted into the slot to place it in a positionfrom which it canNot be withdrawn from the slot thereby interlocking theleg and apron.
 3. The table or stand claimed in claim 1 in which theapron is mounted for swinging movement away from folded position throughmore than 90* so it can be swung outwardly to provide clearance for thelegs and allow the legs to be moved, past the brackets and locking meansprojecting from the inner surface of the apron, to folded position. 4.The table or stand claimed in claim 1 in which each of said meansmounted on the inner face of the apron comprises a bracket supported onthe inner face of the apron and having an outwardly projecting flangedefining a bearing, a shaft mounted for rotation in said bearing, andhaving a head which is opposed to the slot in the adjacent leg when theleg is moved inwardly from an unfolded position of more than 90* and theapron is substantially normal to the top, the said head being narrow inone direction and wide in another direction relative to the slot wherebyit can pass through the slot when it is disposed in coplanar relation tothe slot, and can be locked within the space within the leg by changingits rotary angle relative to the slot, and means for rotating the saidshaft to change the rotary angle of the head.